Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Edward couldn’t wait a moment longer. His patience was no more, and his desire to find Vivianne and have her back in his arms had overshadowed everything else, even his sense of caution.

He glanced in Jonathon’s direction, steeling himself, hoping his friend would understand that the moment had finally come. That was when Jonathon nodded, and he knew they understood each other perfectly. Inhaling deeply, he threw open the door to the parlor with a force that sent it crashing against the wall. The sound exploded through the small room, and the two men inside spun around, their conversation abruptly cut off.

“E-Edward?” William gasped, taking a step back, eyes wide with shock and fear. Reginald stood opposite him, not saying a word.

“Enough games, William.” Edward stepped forward, his fist clenching the pistol but still hiding it from plain sight. “We know that you and Reginald are hiding Vivianne here. Where is she?”

Jonathon stood closely behind, and Edward could feel his friend’s presence, although he could not see him. His eyes were focused on Reginald, whose lips curled into a smirk. He crossed his arms over his chest, leaning back against the mantel as if the intrusion were merely a minor inconvenience.

“I don’t know what you are talking about, Lord Chesterfield,” he said, his tone dripping with mock innocence. “Where did you get that preposterous idea that Vivianne is here?”

Edward glanced over at William, who had turned away, knowing that he was the one who had disclosed what needed to be kept a secret.

“Don’t play the fool,” Edward snapped, taking another step forward. “I’ve heard enough to know that you are involved in her disappearance. Now, where is she?”

Reginald’s smirk widened, and there was a hint of defiance in his gaze. “Even if I did know what you were talking about, what makes you think that you can do anything to change what has already happened? The damage has been done, and I have no reason to indulge your little outburst.”

Edward had little patience for that man, and he took a threatening step closer, his eyes locked on Reginald’s. “You are in no position to be so smug,” he warned. “We can do this the hard way, if you prefer, but it won’t end well for you.”

Reginald raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “You think you can intimidate me? I suggest you reconsider. You are trespassing in the middle of the night, and I am well within my rights to defend myself and my property.”

Edward’s jaw tightened as fury boiled beneath the surface. Reginald was trying to stall, to buy time or perhaps force them into making a brash move. But they couldn’t afford to waste any more time, especially not now that he was certain Vivianne was there.

“Where is she?” Edward demanded once more, his voice lower and much more dangerous than before.

Reginald met his gaze unflinchingly. “I told you, I am alone here, with the exception of William visiting me now. And since I have not invited you in, I would advise you to leave before you do something you will regret.”

The air was thick with silent threats. It was clear Reginald had no intention of giving him the information he demanded, and every second that passed only heightened the danger Vivianne was in, hidden somewhere in the house.

Edward turned around and glanced at Jonathon. How far were they willing to go to get the truth? Edward knew he was willing to go all the way, to lose everything in order to know that Vivianne was safe and sound.

His patience finally snapped. “We are not leaving without her,” he growled at Reginald. “If you think you can keep me from finding Vivianne, you are gravely mistaken.”

That was when Jonathon decided to intervene, his eyes narrowing with determination. “Tell us where she is or we’ll tear this place apart until we find her ourselves.”

Edward had to admit he wasn’t expecting such a threat from his mild-mannered friend. However, it was obvious that desperate situations required desperate measures, and they were both ready.

Reginald’s expression darkened. The smirk was gone. “I will tell you again, Lord Chesterfield,” he warned, his voice cold as ice, “there are only the four of us here. Since you have made such accusations on my person, I’m afraid I cannot let you take another step in my house.”

“I will wait for no one’s permission to find Vivianne,” Edward snarled at the man.

Just as he turned around, planning to head toward the door, Reginald lunged forward, swinging a heavy fist into Edward’s side. The punch landed with a sickening thud, sending Edward reeling. Pain exploded inside of him, filling him with the sensation of a million prickling needles. He blinked several times, knowing he could not afford to remain incapacitated for long.

“That’s how it is, then?” Edward spat, blazing with fury. He decided to keep his pistol in his pocket, a last resort should things take a wrong turn.

He barely had time to react as Reginald came at him again, fists flying. This time, though, Edward was ready, blocking the blow and delivering a swift counterpunch to Reginald’s midsection.

The room erupted into chaos. Jonathon made sure William was kept to the sides, unable to interfere as Edward and Reginald grappled. The furnishings of the parlor became collateral damage—their intertwined bodies crashed into a side table, sending it and its contents clattering to the floor.

Edward could feel the desperation in Reginald’s every move, but he managed to match him blow for blow. Reginald grabbed him, but Edward managed to break free from his grasp, delivering a punishing blow to the side of the man’s head that sent him staggering back. Reginald crashed into the mantel, dazed but not defeated. He quickly regained his footing, eyes burning with rage.

“You’re going to regret this,” Reginald snarled, reaching for a fireplace poker with deadly intent.

Before he could strike, Edward lunged forward, grabbing Reginald’s wrist and twisting it sharply, forcing him to drop the weapon. The poker clattered to the floor, and Edward shoved Reginald back, sending him crashing into a chair.

“Enough!” Edward shouted, breathing heavily, his chest heaving with exertion. “Where is she?”

Panting and clearly hurt and shaken, Reginald glared at Edward. “You’re too late,” he spat, although his voice lacked the conviction it had had before.

He glared angrily at William, but he didn’t say anything, although it was obvious that William’s carelessness had bought about his discovery. That was irrelevant at that moment, as Reginald clearly knew he was outmatched and losing the battle.

Finally, with a sneer, he relented. “Upstairs,” he muttered, his voice dripping with resentment. “Last door on the right.”

Edward didn’t waste a second. He handed Jonathon the pistol with clear instructions. “If either of them tries anything, shoot them.”

Jonathon clumsily accepted the professed weapon, his trembling hand uncertain. Still, he did as he was bid.

Edward turned and rushed out of the room, bolting for the staircase, jumping the steps two at a time.

***

Vivianne listened intently to the sounds of a struggle, which were reaching her ears through the walls. She could hear thuds, crashes, the unmistakable grunts of men locked in combat.

Panic seized her completely. She froze, breath catching in her throat as she strained to make sense of the commotion. The sounds were coming from somewhere within the house, growing louder, more frantic. It was clear that a fight had broken out, but she had no way of knowing who was involved or what it meant for her.

Hope flared up inside of her, despite all the suspicions. Was it the infamous Lord Chesterfield? Had he finally found her? Was he fighting Reginald? Was it the man talking about more money and marriage? Or was it a completely different intruder? She had no idea which possibility was worse.

As the noises grew closer, she instinctively pressed herself against the wall, seeking any kind of safety in the shadows. Her heart pounded so loudly in her chest that she feared it might give her away. She desperately tried to calm herself, but the sounds of the struggle made it impossible to think clearly.

She heard a crash, followed by a sharp cry of pain, and her hands flew to her mouth to stifle a gasp. The fear that had been simmering inside her erupted into full-blown terror. Whoever was fighting, they were doing so with a ferocity that sent a chill down her spine.

Her eyes darted around the room, searching for a place to hide, but there was nowhere to go. The window was barred, the door locked, and the furniture offered no refuge. She was trapped, forced to wait and listen as the fight raged on, inching ever closer.

Suddenly, the door rattled as if someone was trying to open it.

“Dammit!” she heard from the other side. Her breath hitched, her body tensing. Whoever it was, he was coming for her next.

She remained huddled against the wall, her ears still ringing from the earlier commotion. But now there was a new sound, something more frightening than anything before. It was the unmistakably bone-chilling sound of someone trying to force their way into the room.

Her eyes flew to the door, which rattled violently as the person on the other side jiggled the handle and then threw their weight against it. The wood creaked and groaned, the lock straining under the pressure. She panicked, but all she could do was watch in horror, her body refusing to move. If the door gave way, there would be nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.

The banging grew louder, more forceful, and she pressed herself tighter against the wall, her mind screaming for her to do something, anything, to protect herself. But she was powerless, trapped and helpless as the door splintered under the relentless assault.

With a deafening crack, the door finally burst open, slamming against the wall with such force that it shook the room. Vivianne gasped, her hands flying to her mouth as she stared in terror at the figure who now stood in the doorway.

The man who had broken in was breathing heavily, his eyes wide and frantic as they scanned the room. When they landed on her, recognition flashed across his face, and he shouted, “Viv!”